Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹3,770 crore in Odisha yesterday.
These include development initiatives of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED), as well as various projects of the state government. Mr. Shah also inaugurated Sulphuric Acid Plant-III at the Paradip unit of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) Limited.
Mr. Shah also addressed a Cooperative Development Seminar in Bhubaneswar. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi were among those present at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Shah said, the projects launched on the day mark an important step in the development of Odisha. He said the sulphuric acid plant at Paradip will help strengthen domestic production and contribute to making the country self-reliant in the chemical sector.
He added that in the coming years, organisations such as IFFCO and KRIBHCO would work together to help make India self-sufficient in sulphuric acid production.
Referring to internal security, Mr. Shah said the Centre has intensified efforts to eliminate Left-wing extremism and expressed confidence that the country will be free from Naxalism by the end of this month.
He added that the government is working to accelerate development in regions that were affected by Naxalism and to ensure that tribal communities benefit from development initiatives.
The Home Minister also laid the foundation stone for a campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Odisha and inaugurated its temporary campus.
Mr. Shah says the government is expanding forensic infrastructure across the country by establishing forensic science laboratories and NFSU campuses to strengthen the criminal justice system.
He also said Odisha has achieved a conviction rate of more than 87 per cent in FIRs registered under the new criminal laws, adding that scientific investigation methods and forensic evidence are helping strengthen law enforcement.
Highlighting the cooperative sector, Mr. Shah said the Centre and the Odisha government would work together to build a strong cooperative base in every village in the state, similar to the Amul model.
The Union Minister also said India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy in the world and noted that several free trade agreements have been signed in recent years to boost economic growth and global trade.
Mr. Shah said the Centre and the Odisha government will work together to accelerate development in the state and make up for what he described as lost development over the past two decades.
